1. Collaborative Governance
and Partnerships
ACE Conference, Wellington
Vivien Twyford, Twyfords NZ
June 2012
1

2. Twyfords are ….
2

3. Why Collaborative Governance?
• The environment has changed over recent years
• Addressing the increasing complexity of our
world is a key issue
• Business practice, particularly leadership
practice, has to change to meet new
expectations.
3

4. Approaches to increasing
complexity
Old approach Needed approach
• Leaders have all the • Leaders saying "I don't
answers have the answer, let's work
• the expert model – “I together to co-create
know best – if you knew solutions that work”
what I know, you‟d agree” • building on strengths and
• identifying problems that getting more of what works
need fixing • valuing diversity
• using rational argument • walking in each others‟
to address values in shoes, perspectives
collision shared, emotions explored,
4

5. The new game we must learn
• A new mindset or way of thinking
– knowing when you don‟t know
– recognising and acknowledging what
stakeholders can contribute
– learning how to work with stakeholders
– inviting stakeholders into the dilemma without
trying to control the outcome
– harnessing positive energy and enthusiasm
5

6. Making a start
• Partnerships, alliances and collaborations are
demonstrations of a new mindset about the
value of working together
• But … all too often they break down due to lack
of process or lack of understanding of the
fundamentals.
6

7. The Cynevin Framework
explained
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7oz366X0-
8&feature=related – Dave Snowden
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mqNcs8mp74&featur
e=em-share_video_user – Sean Callaghan
• A sense-making model NOT a classification model
• Helps us understand that while co-ordination and co-
operation can solve simple and complicated problems,
collaboration is essential in solving complex dilemmas
7

8. Complexity 8

9. What does complex look like?
• No agreement on the problem to be solved
• Lots of uncertainty around the data
• No clear solution
• „Competing futures‟
• Values and ethical considerations are involved
• No clear path forward
9

10. What’s the difference between
collaboration and partnership?
Collaboration Partnerships
• A way of working • Cross-sector partnerships are
with diverse a form of strategic alliance
stakeholders to between organisations drawn
create enduring from the business,
solutions to our government, education or
most complex community sectors who
challenges, commit to working
problems and collaboratively on a project,
dilemmas program or complex issue to
pursue a common purpose.
10

11. Key characteristics of
Collaborative Practice
• Appreciative mindset
• Shared learning
• Trustful relationships
• Sophisticated conversations
• Thoughtful deliberation
• Finding and implementing enduring solutions to
complex dilemmas
11

12. 12

14. Key characteristics of cross-
sector partnerships
• Organisations working together to achieve
mutual objectives
• Sharing risks and benefits
• Principles of
– equity,
– transparency,
– mutual benefit
14

15. Both are about….
building TRUST
15

16. One way of valuing trust
Trust
Getting a project complete on time and within budget is
important. Our stakeholders will trust us if we do this.
16

17. An alternative view of trust
Trust
Developing trust with stakeholders early in a relationship by
sharing our dilemma (and all relevant information), then
agreeing on a decision-making process together will help us
find an enduring solution on time and within budget.
17

18. Questions
• What questions do you still have about
using Collaborative Governance or
collaborative practice in your work in Adult
Education?
18